Chapter 9D

"What news do you have from Olympus, my friend?" asked Hades. He had heard that there was some commotion up there following the midsummer night festival. Not that he cared so much about the festival. He never went to any of them. But the explosion was heard all the way from Tartarus. He needed to ensure that his kingdom would not be affected by the actions of those above.

"The news was not so clear to me, Lord Hades," frowned Hecate. "I was only able to gather bits and pieces of the news. Everything was kept in a big hush."

Hades leaned forward. Surely such secrets meant that something big was going on up above. "Tell me!" he urged calmly.

"Something about Eros and one of Zeus' children, I think. It wasn't very clear. It involved the drunkenness of one and the other stealing Zeus' thunderbolt. I believe they fought and then, set Aphrodite's palace on fire."

Hades sat up straight. What gall to steal the king of the gods' thunderbolt! No one else dared….. Ah! Perhaps a drunken brawl between Eros and who else – Ares! He could picture that in his mind. Ares was the sort of troublemaker who could do such a thing…. The firebrand! Apparently, he had set his lover's home on fire….."

He shrugged… "A drunken brawl between a woman's son and her lover…. It is not our matter." He dismissed the news. "Thank you, Hecate!" She bowed low and left.

-O-

He would have to destroy this one.

Zeus frowned at the realization that it was his youngest daughter who could summon the lightning bolt to her will. No one ever dared. No one ever could.

And to think it was done by one so young!

This was a dangerous situation indeed. Very dangerous. He thought of Cronus. Then he thought of his grandfather, Uranus. Then, he thought of himself…. The youngest child overthrowing the youngest child who overthrew his father….. Was he next? Was that how Persephone was to be Queen?

He shuddered at her name now. Why did he have to name her "The Slayer"?

He would have to destroy this one.